Background
This Radisson Blu property offers a surprising array of facilities for an airport hotel, including a pool, gym and a large selection of event spaces. In September last year it completed a £6 million refurbishment of its public areas, meeting facilities and some guestroom categories.
What's it like?
The Radisson Blu brand is the Radisson Hotel Group’s upper-scale offering, which is reflected in the sleek interiors of this property. The refurbishment has given the hotel a fresh update and it looks like something you’d find in a city centre rather than at an airport.
Upon entering, guests are greeted by an impressive reception area with a sculpture of a person standing on the shoulders of another. This is a reference to the “wine angel” acrobats that occasionally put on a display inside the brand’s signature Wine Tower, which sits in the central atrium and has been revamped as part of the works. It is surrounded by a stylish bar and seating area.
Where is it?
Directly connected to the main terminal building at Stansted airport via a covered walkway. You can walk from the hotel lobby to the train station and terminal in five minutes, making it convenient for early morning departures.
Rooms
The 500 rooms and suites start from 25 sqm and come in Standard, Superior, Premium, Junior Suite and Suite categories. There are also family rooms. Superior and Premium categories (the latter of which was formerly known as Business Class), were refurbished in 2017. All rooms come with free wifi, complimentary bottled water, tea and coffee-making facilities, and large TVs.
I stayed in a Premium room (pictured), which also had an espresso machine, upgraded bathroom amenities, and robes and slippers. It offered plenty of space, along with a king-size bed and a table for working at. Despite being so close to the airport, it was quiet and I heard only a slight rumble as aircraft took off and landed. Even that small amount of noise subsided by the time I was ready to go to sleep.
Food and drink
The hotel has two restaurants. For a more relaxed meal, head to Collage, which offers classic British brasserie dishes such as steaks, burgers and fish and chips. It features booth seating with windows overlooking part of the runway. A buffet breakfast is served here.
The more upmarket Station 169 pays homage to Stansted’s history as the site of a US Army Air Force base during the Second World War. The menu features starters including Devon crab cakes and poached wood pigeon, and mains of grilled stone bass and lamb rump, with steaks here highly recommended by staff. The drinks list of wine, beer, spirits and cocktails is extensive. For light bites, the Wine Tower bar serves cold and hot sandwiches during the day as well as a selection of mains in the evening.
Business
Some £660,000 of the refurbishment was spent on the hotel’s 19 event facilities, which include the Essex Suite with space for 400 people theatre-style. There are also several smaller spaces with all the services required for meetings.
Leisure
A wide selection of facilities including a ten-metre pool, sauna, steam room and a gym. There are also core toning, aqua aerobics, spinning and circuit classes available on certain days of the week.
Verdict
If you’re departing on an early morning flight from Stansted, the Radisson Blu really is the most convenient property to stay at, as it doesn’t require a shuttle ride to reach the terminal. Pair that with comfortable rooms, a choice of restaurants, a stylish centrepiece bar and the availability of an on-site gym and pool and it’s hard to think what more one could expect from an airport hotel.
radissonblu.com/hotel-stanstedairport
Molly Dyson
